Eighteen months ago, they were crowned world champions after beating Australia in an epic final in Sydney.

But now, after demoralising Six Nations defeats against Wales and France, the two Robinsons - captain Jason and coach Andy - find themselves searching for solutions to their rapid decline. Sale's Jason is trying to come to terms with having led England in those two defeats and his Sharks team-mate Charlie Hodgson has found himself in the unwanted spotlight as a result of crucial missed kicks against France.

Hanging over both is the name of the man who drop-kicked England to World Cup glory in Australia in 2003, Jonny Wilkinson.

With Wilkinson injured - he has not played for England since that memorable night Down Under - Robinson had been handed his captaincy and Hodgson his number 10 shirt.

It would be easy to say England lacked leadership against France and that Hodgson's missed kicks cost the side dearly.

That would be to over-simplify a complicated situation for Andy Robinson and his fellow coaches.

Jason is not a natural leader but can take on that role because he is so well respected by his peers for his professionalism and ability.

Yet full-back is just about the most difficult position on the field from which to captain a side and influence events.

Easy enough when things are going well but when they are not - as is the case at present - then the full-back is too far away from his team-mates.

Bill Beaumont has gone down in history as one of the great captains. He was able to lead by example through his unquestioned bravery in the pack but he had experienced players in key positions.

Jason doesn't have that advantage. It is hard to think of anyone in the side capable of knocking things into shape on the field apart from, perhaps, Matt Dawson who only went on against France as a late replacement.

The Sale full-back can only lift his troops by doing something spectacular and inspiring but, at the highest level, those opportunities are fewer and he was strangely indecisive at times against France.

The trouble is that sides have studied him on video, over and over again, and, while no side can bottle him up completely, they can drastically reduce his options.

There may be reservations about how Wilkinson, a quiet and very private man like Robinson, might cope as a national captain who also has the responsibility of kicking the goals.

The pressure on Wilkinson will be huge when he does return because everyone will expect him to kick everything in sight and goal-kicking is not England's basic problem.

It is too easy to point the finger at Hodgson and Olly Barkley, who also missed with three penalty attempts, because England's problems go much deeper than that.

They still have a half-decent pack, but it is rudderless, and it will take time for two or three players to emerge as the leaders, controllers and enforcers that are desperately needed.

Although the centre positions still need sorting out, there are enough decent backs around, but they will only develop if given the right platform by the forwards. That isn't happening yet because the boys up front don't do the basics well enough. Consistency at the lineout would help.

Ireland will be fresher when they face England in Dublin in a fortnight because their season has a structure that provides quality rest time for senior players.

Sadly, English players are mere pawns as more matches are crammed into an already overloaded season to fund the professional game.